Friday, 8 May 2015

Jameson vs The Necrons

Furstenburg called over a few weeks ago for another game of Pulp Alley. For a change there were only two of us playing and there were no new players so it was a bit different and just as enjoyable as ever.

I gave my Leprecians led by the irrepressible Captain Jameson another outing, this time against a horde of Necrons (we used the Gang rules from Pulp Alley's recent release Vice Alley)

The Necrons

Necron Lord

The scenario we played was Deathtrap from the main rule book and saw Jameson separated from the rest of his league. He started in one corner with the entire Necron league between him and his troops. They had to rescue him before the end of the 6th turn.

Surrounded and cut off

Help is on the way

Turn 1

With the forces so far apart it was inevitable that the action would centre on Jameson. If the Necrons could knock him down then they could claim him in the same manner as a plot point. In this game he then counted as the Major plot point and was worth 3VP's. Round 1 of combat ended with wounds all round and 1 dead scarab horde.

Jameson holds his own

The first gang of Necrons advance across the open ground and lost 2 of their number. Not that it bothered the infernal robotic menaces.

Two down

Unfortunately a long range shot took out one of the Leprecians. Normally this isn't the sort of thing tat would bother Jameson but hey this timits his skin on the line.

'I never knew his name' Cpt Jameson

Turn 2

The Necron gangs weren't quite as tough as they looked at first. Shorty had the initiative and made short work of the first gang.

And then there were none

Elsewhere the fight involving Jameson continued but no one gained an advantage, although Jameson failed his recovery roll which wasn't part of the plan. Perhaps a bead of sweat could be glimpsed upon his brow.Turn 3

Another Leprecian falls to the vile Necrons

The Leprecians begin to close in on Jameson

A tactical withdrawal

The second Necron horde advances

Orinoco claims a Plot Point

More scrap for the scrap heap

At the start of turn 4 things are looking relatively OK for Jameson, his forces are advancing and he's holding out against the Necron leader & sidekick.

Turn 4

But then disaster strikes - he stumbles over a rock and the Necron lord, cad that he his, takes advantage and sucker punches Jameson. He falls to the ground and shock waves reverberate through the universe.A smile breaks out on the Black Majors face, Zardork feels a warm tingling sensation, a psychotic armed rodent feels a sense of relief.

Jameson falls!

Turn 5

At the start of this turn Shorty takes command and makes a tactical decision. Rescuing the boss would be nigh in impossible and he doesn't feel like dying today. He makes for the thrid plot point which would make the game a draw. (Orinoco had two by this point) Orinoco was just an ally but I decided to give him problem solving stats to gain plot points rather that the usual shooting or dodge, and it worked out quite well.

The remaining Necron troops are killed.

Jameson is captured by the Necron creature/

Turn 6

At this stage Shorty is at the 3rd plot point and successfully resolves it, drawing the game. However, I had the fortun card that allowed me to extend the game by one turn. Orinoco could reach the last plot point and attempt to resolve it next turn. If he succeeded and managed not to loose any plot points I could win on a technicality. Jameson would be proud of him, he thought to himself.

Orinoco already has 2 plot points

Its decided and I play the card. Orinoco moves to the 4th plot point and its winner takes all in the last round.

The Necron Lord begins to wish he'd brought a gun

Turn 7

The final turn begins with a mad dash to defend/kill Orinoco at the final plot point. First off the gamble pays off and Orinoco passes the test. The Leprecians are winning! Ok technically Jameson is still a prisoner but its not as if he;d rescue any of them is it?

The Necrons launch their assault

But Shorty gets in the way

The final fight

I want to say the Leprecians snatched victory at the death but I have a feeling it ended as a draw. Orinoco had 3 plot points but Shorty dropped his when he was knocked down. So the game ended with 3VP's each

In case you're wondering this chap was the only other survivor. He was involved in a rather funny fight between a bunch of Followers. He lived, the others died.

The only other survivor

Jameson's cunning plan succeeds

Somehow I doubt this is the last we shall see of Jameson. Perhaps this is all part of his nefarious plans. He's too good a villain to not see again.

As usual another great game and we played through in just over 2 hours. Perfect for fitting a game in around busy lives.